“You made it,” Daryl called.
John turned briskly toward the familiar voice.
“Come on over and meet some people, if you haven’t already,”
Daryl said.
John rolled his eyes and headed toward her. “If it weren’t
for Steve, I may not have made it this far. I probably would have been starving
in my bed, dying for a midnight snack.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention,” Jason
spoke up from atop one of the chairs, not really needing the extra height.
“Hello,” he continued tapping a serving spoon on a glass.
Eventually, all attention was focused on him.
“I would like to take this time to officially welcome the
newest member of our roost. He flew all the way from Texas, and boy, are his
arms tired,” Jason offered the familiar joke receiving only sporadic snickers.
“Okay, I see that went over your heads. “Anyway, I’m sure
that you have many questions for him, but, please, for John’s sake, give him
some breathing room. He will be here long enough to update everyone on life at
home.”
“Here, here,” John said.
Someone in the background laughed out loud.
“Anyway, let’s make him feel welcome. So, without further
ado, let’s eat some of this wonderful food. Doug, would you please lead us with
a word of thanks?”
John decided immediately he liked everyone. It was hard to
really talk to Jason as he couldn’t get past a greeting. He decided it must be
all the fuss of the evening and dismissed it.
Later, burned out and grateful to be under covers, he lay
his head down on the first pillow he had seen in a few days and fell into a
deep sleep.Jeffrey W. Bennett, is the author of Commitment-A Novel and other non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.
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